CILC Pinnacle Award for Virtual Learning Excellence
Mote Marine Laboratory has once again been honored with a Pinnacle Award from the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) for the 2024–2025 school year, recognizing excellence in live virtual programming.
The Pinnacle Award is given annually to content providers who receive outstanding program evaluations from educators. To qualify, organizations must receive at least 2.85 out of 3.0 across key categories: engagement, educational content, presenter effectiveness, and audio/visual quality. Mote’s average scores remain well above this threshold, reflecting consistent excellence in virtual delivery.
This year’s award continues a strong tradition of recognition for Mote’s Virtual Focus Trips, which bring marine science and conservation topics directly to classrooms across the country and around the world through livestreams, videoconferences, and webinars.
“We have always had the goal of making education and the magic of learning here at Mote something that can be utilized by anyone,” said Mote’s Virtual Programs Manager, Jason Robertshaw. “The value of this award is that it is based on direct feedback from teachers so we know our programs are making a difference.”
“This award reflects our belief that high-quality, interactive learning can happen wherever students are,” said Aly Busse, Associate Vice President for Education at Mote Marine Laboratory. “We’re proud to connect classrooms with real science, real animals, and the people doing the research. Recognition from CILC shows us we’re meeting a real need for dynamic, virtual STEM experiences.”
One teacher said, “Today’s lesson was awesome! Thanks so much for keeping the students engaged and excited about learning information on sharks. Your lesson was right on track for their level of learning, and they couldn’t wait to go back to class and share all the facts they learned about sharks. We even completed a diagram of a shark and labeled it! Fun, fun, fun!!! We hope to learn with you next year…”
Three decades of STEM learning journeys
Mote will celebrate 30 years of virtual learning in 2026. The journey began in 1989 with participation in the original JASON Project, which brought live science expeditions into classrooms through satellite downlinks to Mote. That experience led to the launch of Mote’s own virtual program, SeaTrek, in 1996.
Mote’s virtual programs are designed for K–12 and lifelong learners and are aligned with national and state standards. Offerings include marine animal encounters, marine science research topics, and interactive storytime programs for young readers.
Continuing its legacy of educational innovation, Mote will debut new Wonderful Animal Virtual Encounters this fall—including the highly anticipated Penguin Plunge—broadcast live from the new Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA). These programs will be powered by the Mote Aquarium Roving Virtual Exhibit Navigator (MARVEN), a mobile virtual learning system equipped with three cameras, microphone headsets, and media players. MARVEN makes the virtual experience incredibly immersive, bringing audiences behind the scenes and right up to the animals.
🔗 Learn more: mote.org/marven
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